Trumbo's 30th HR propels Orioles past Indians 5-2
BALTIMORE (AP) - Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 30th home run, Kevin Gausman pitched seven shutout innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 on Saturday night in a duel between first-place teams.
Pedro Alvarez also homered for the Orioles, who will seek to complete a three-game sweep of the AL Central leaders on Sunday. Cleveland has scored three runs in 18 innings thus far.
Trumbo connected with a man on to cap a three-run first inning against Josh Tomlin (10-3). Playing in his first season with Baltimore, Trumbo already has eight more homers than last year and is just four short of matching his career high, set in 2013 with the Angels.
After earning only one win in his first 16 starts, Gausman (2-7) struck out seven and allowed only one runner past first base. The right-hander gave up four hits and walked three but was backed by three double plays.
Brad Brach surrendered a two-out, two-run single to Lonnie Chisenhall in the ninth before Zach Britton got the final out for his 32nd save.
The AL East-leading Orioles improved to 35-14 at home and 18-6 against the AL Central.
Tomlin was done in by a first inning that turned on the hustle of 230-pound slugger Chris Davis. With runners at the corners and one out, Davis hit a potential double-play grounder to second base. After the force at second, Davis beat the relay by a step to get an RBI and keep the inning alive.
Trumbo followed with a no-doubt shot to left.
Alvarez chased Tomlin with a leadoff homer in the seventh, and Jonathan Schoop added an RBI single off Jeff Manship for a 5-0 lead.
Tomlin struck out eight, walked none and allowed seven hits in falling to 6-1 on the road. He has given up 24 homers this season, matching his career high.
NEWCOMER
The Indians signed LHP Joe Thatcher to a minor league contract Saturday. The 34-year-old played in spring training with Cleveland but did not make the team. He pitched in the minors for the Dodgers until opting out of his contract in early June.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: 3B Juan Uribe was not in the starting lineup after being plunked on the batting helmet above the left ear Friday night. He pinch hit in the ninth. ... RHP Zach McAllister (hip) pitched for Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, was to throw on the side Saturday and pitch again on Monday. "He says he feels really good," manager Terry Francona said.
Orioles: C Matt Wieters (foot) missed a fifth straight game. Manager Buck Showalter hopes to have him back Monday. ... RHP Darren O'Day (hamstring) will likely be activated from the DL on Sunday or Monday, Showalter said. ... RHP Ubaldo Jimenez was placed on the paternity leave list. His wife is due to give birth on Aug. 21 but could deliver early. ... OF Hyun Soo Kim (hamstring) is slated to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie next week.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (9-8. 3.42 ERA) makes his 20th start of the season in the series finale Sunday. He's got three of Cleveland's five complete games.
Orioles: RHP Vance Worley (2-1, 3.16) gets his fourth start for Baltimore. He didn't make it out of the fifth inning in his last outing, a loss to the Yankees.